Four Winds-Electrical system failure

berncon · 09-07-2016, 07:29 PM

We have a Thor Four Winds RV unit with a full side slide out. While retracting the slide out with the generator running everything suddenly stopped. The slide out stopped midway, the generator stopped and all the electricity went off. Nothing will come back on. The generator cranks over but will not start. I checked the circuit breaker box and no breakers are tripped and I don't see any fuse blown. Anybody know of a possible cause?

tenbear · 09-07-2016, 11:40 PM

I have a couple of questions.

If you plug the RV into electric power do you have power, 120vac and/or 12vdc?

Since the generator still cranks, the 12v from the battery is still connected to the generator, so something happened to the connection from the battery to the rest of the RV. Is the battery and/or the generator in the slide?

There could be fuses or circuit breakers in the connections between the battery and the power panel. They should be checked.

berncon · 09-08-2016, 01:04 PM

Thanks tenbear for your response. Unfortunately I don't have a power source to plug into. The batteries have good 12+ voltage. Neither the batteries or generator are in the slide out. No circuit breakers nor fuses are tripped or blown. My best assessment at this point is the disconnect relay between the batteries and the 12 volt system might be bad. Again unfortunately I don't have a schematic for the housing electrical system so I have no idea where any relays are.

Unless someone knows where I can get schematics, it looks like I'm going to have to take it in for service. The manufactures don't seem to be any help in providing useful service manuals and schematics.

Thanks again for your response.

Bernie Conko
Wellington, FL

KNMIB · 09-08-2016, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berncon

Thanks tenbear for your response. Unfortunately I don't have a power source to plug into. The batteries have good 12+ voltage. Neither the batteries or generator are in the slide out. No circuit breakers nor fuses are tripped or blown. My best assessment at this point is the disconnect relay between the batteries and the 12 volt system might be bad. Again unfortunately I don't have a schematic for the housing electrical system so I have no idea where any relays are.

Unless someone knows where I can get schematics, it looks like I'm going to have to take it in for service. The manufactures don't seem to be any help in providing useful service manuals and schematics.

Thanks again for your response.

Bernie Conko
Wellington, FL

I contacted Thor and they sent me schematics for everything on PDF the next day. I have a 2012 Four Winds.

berncon · 09-08-2016, 01:44 PM

How did you contact Four Winds?

JamieGeek · 09-08-2016, 01:51 PM

To contact Thor/Four Winds go here: https://thormotorcoach.com/contact/

and click on "Customer Care" at left.

berncon · 09-08-2016, 01:53 PM

Thanks.

tenbear · 09-08-2016, 03:02 PM

My Four Winds has a circuit breaker in the battery to power panel line. It is located under the bed. When I changed my old Magnetek converter to a 3 stage PD 9260 I replaced the existing CB with a higher rated CB and also replaced the #8 wire with #4.

You probably have a similar circuit breaker.

berncon · 09-08-2016, 03:21 PM

Thanks, I'm trying to get the schematics.

blw2 · 09-08-2016, 03:33 PM

one thought..... have you tried cycling power. I have found that often this helps with these weird issues.

I suggest pulling a battery cable to completely kill all power to the coach for a minute or so, then reconnect and try.

Oh, another thought.... the slides have an interlock with the chassis.... so they will not work if the chassis engine running. I think some might also have an interlock with the parking brake. You weren't by chance starting the chassis engine while cranking in that slide, were you?

berncon · 09-08-2016, 03:52 PM

Chassis engine wasn't running.

Pulling battery cable is an interesting idea. At work now so won't have a chance to do anything until later tonight.

Thanks.

blw2 · 09-08-2016, 04:12 PM

Yeah, i should have added that I have no basis of an idea about what might be reset in doing this. Nothing specific. It's just one of those things to try, that often works with electrical stuff.

I just understand that the slide has a controller. Also likely some relays involved here that could be stuck..... the controlling circuit boards in the generator even.... Who knows. It's worth a shot.

Tom N3EQF · 09-08-2016, 07:38 PM

Look closely at the cables running thru the battery compartment. If you see something resembling the picture below, it is a circuit breaker. There is a lever that comes down from it when the breaker is tripped. Pushing up on the lever will reset the breaker.

I'm not sure if this is on your RV model, but it is used on many. Good luck...

Tom

berncon · 09-08-2016, 07:48 PM

Thanks Tom, I'll check it out when I get home tonight.

Druff · 09-20-2016, 11:14 PM

In the Chateau class c the breaker is underneath the coach by the steps and it is a red push in button

berncon · 09-21-2016, 12:13 PM

Suspected the relay for the battery disconnect for storage mode was bad but could not locate. Know it is somewhere under coach but have no means of getting under there. Took it to our service mechanic and he confirmed that it is bad and a breaker is also tripped (don't know where that one is). Fortunately it should be covered by the extended warranty we bought.

Thanks to all for their suggestions, comments and replies.

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